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County Makes Two Board Appointments

The Barnes County Commission met Tuesday and among other things, appointed David Vareberg to the Barnes County Weed Board and Andre DeLorme to the Barnes County Park Board.

About 10 months ago DeLorme, a VCSU professor, was a possible pick for the Barnes County Water Resource District Board, and was supported by Commissioner Phil Leitner.

Commissioner Cindy Schwehr said she supported DeLorme for the park board.
“I really like him,” she said. “He’s passionate about that river... I like him, I’ve worked with some of the kids he teaches, they like him, he’s just a likable guy.”

The commission is still seeking another member for the water board. Last month the commissioners removed board member Duane Lettenmaier for using water board funds to finance a project that benefitted him personally.

The county also recently began advertising for a new county auditor to replace Ed McGough who retired last month after 26 years on the job.
McGough said his health kept him from keeping up with the duties of the office. While technically an elected position, the commissioners did not feel there was enough time to get the position on the November ballot.

Instead, the commission will appoint someone to fill the seat for a term that will expire March 31, 2015. Elections for Auditor will be held in November, 2014.

Commissioner Rodger Berntson said he was disappointed only one person has applied for the auditor’s position, when a recent opening in the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office nearly three dozen applicants.

“I’m a little uptight about spending $4,000 to put it in the papers, when the sheriff put out for deputies on JobService and he had 32 applications,” Berntson said. “That’s an awful percentage, one to 32.”